This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7812861.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Warnings issued amid Arctic chill | Warnings issued amid Arctic chill |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Severe weather warnings have been issued as temperatures in the UK dipped as low as -11C (12.2F) overnight. | |
| The Met Office issued alerts for Tuesday morning in parts of south-east England and northern Scotland. | The Met Office issued alerts for Tuesday morning in parts of south-east England and northern Scotland. |
| Arctic weather is expected to keep its grip on the UK, with lows of -10C (14F) forecast for southern England and Wales into Wednesday. | |
| The RAC is urging drivers to take extra care, reporting blackspots near Luton, the West Midlands and south London. | The RAC is urging drivers to take extra care, reporting blackspots near Luton, the West Midlands and south London. |
| Freezing conditions had affected flights at Luton and Birmingham airports and closed some schools in Gloucestershire and Kent on Monday. | Freezing conditions had affected flights at Luton and Birmingham airports and closed some schools in Gloucestershire and Kent on Monday. |
| The mercury dropped to -11C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and in Shap, Cumbria, overnight. | |
| Forecasters say temperatures in Scotland will rise throughout Tuesday as cloud and rain spreads southwards. | Forecasters say temperatures in Scotland will rise throughout Tuesday as cloud and rain spreads southwards. |
| However, sub-zero temperatures will remain throughout the day in the Manchester and Hull areas and southern England and Wales face another freezing night. | However, sub-zero temperatures will remain throughout the day in the Manchester and Hull areas and southern England and Wales face another freezing night. |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for widespread icy roads in East Sussex, Kent and Medway, and freezing rain across the north of Scotland. | The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for widespread icy roads in East Sussex, Kent and Medway, and freezing rain across the north of Scotland. |
| Roads gritted | Roads gritted |
| Gritters were out on roads across the UK spreading thousands of tonnes of salt throughout the night. | Gritters were out on roads across the UK spreading thousands of tonnes of salt throughout the night. |
| Water firm Severn Trent has asked its eight million customers across the Midlands and Wales to protect their water systems, after it was reported pipes were freezing even while heating was on. | Water firm Severn Trent has asked its eight million customers across the Midlands and Wales to protect their water systems, after it was reported pipes were freezing even while heating was on. |
| Flights were suspended for 90 minutes at Birmingham International Airport early on Monday and snow meant the runway had to be closed at Luton Airport for a similar length of time, leading to flight diversions. | Flights were suspended for 90 minutes at Birmingham International Airport early on Monday and snow meant the runway had to be closed at Luton Airport for a similar length of time, leading to flight diversions. |
| The start of the new term was delayed for some pupils in Gloucestershire where 15 schools were closed, and at least 11 schools in Kent were shut.Lakes have frozen over, as well as water pipes in some areas | The start of the new term was delayed for some pupils in Gloucestershire where 15 schools were closed, and at least 11 schools in Kent were shut.Lakes have frozen over, as well as water pipes in some areas |
| In Wales, a number of roads and schools were affected and the drop in temperatures saw a rise in the number of people treated in hospitals for falls on ice. | In Wales, a number of roads and schools were affected and the drop in temperatures saw a rise in the number of people treated in hospitals for falls on ice. |
| Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire a 30-year-old woman was killed when her car ended up in the path of a train at a level crossing during the icy conditions. | Meanwhile, in Lincolnshire a 30-year-old woman was killed when her car ended up in the path of a train at a level crossing during the icy conditions. |
| Motoring organisations reported a 100% increase in the number of call-outs they received. | Motoring organisations reported a 100% increase in the number of call-outs they received. |
| Arctic air | Arctic air |
| The AA said most of the extra workload came from home starts, with flat batteries being the most common problem. | The AA said most of the extra workload came from home starts, with flat batteries being the most common problem. |
| Age Concern urged vulnerable older people to take extra precautions to stay warm and keep active during the cold spell. | Age Concern urged vulnerable older people to take extra precautions to stay warm and keep active during the cold spell. |
| The charity added that £5bn of benefits were still going unclaimed, although the government said 2.5 million cold weather payments had already been made. | The charity added that £5bn of benefits were still going unclaimed, although the government said 2.5 million cold weather payments had already been made. |
| BBC weather forecaster John Hammond explained that the current freezing conditions have been caused by an outbreak of Arctic air which has swept across Scandinavia and over the North Sea. | BBC weather forecaster John Hammond explained that the current freezing conditions have been caused by an outbreak of Arctic air which has swept across Scandinavia and over the North Sea. |
| Temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago, and the current cold period is expected to ease later in the week. | Temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago, and the current cold period is expected to ease later in the week. |
| Pensioners worried about high energy bills can call Age Concern's free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for advice. | Pensioners worried about high energy bills can call Age Concern's free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for advice. |
| Send your weather pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your weather pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |